Athletes from a number of high schools sharpened up on their times and heights at the final staging of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Qualification Trials Series at National Stadium on Saturday ahead of their respective regional championships that begin this week and run into next week.

The girls participated in the morning session at the stadium where there were only three track events and one field event as former Girls’ Champs winner, Holmwood Technical, showed their strength in the senior classes.

Daniella Deer of Holmwood Technical, who is the Class Two girls’ 400m champion from Champs 2019, has stepped up in class and shows that she means business as she took the Class One girls’ 400m in 57.26s, setting the stage for what should be a special event at the Central Championships next week.

Deer got the better of the Hydel High pair of Mickililah Vassell, who finished second in 57.56, and Daena Dyer’ who was third in 57.94.

Dejanea Oakley of Clarendon College took the Class Two girls’ 400m in 56.26s, ahead of Diandra Kelly of Excelsior High who was second in 56.70s, just ahead of Alliah Baker of Hydel High who was third in 56.71s.

Abigail Campbell of Ferncourt High produced the performance of the day in the girls’ section to take the Class Three 400m in a smart 55.76s, leaving the field in her wake. Annasticia Johnson of Muschett High was second in 57.45s, while Jody-Ann Daley of Hydel was third in 58.22s. Campbell’s time was faster than that of the Class One winner.

Jody-Ann Dixon of Edwin Allen won the 400m hurdles Open in 1:00.67, Calisha Taylor of Holmwood Technical was second in 1:01.76, while Dejona Simpson of Hydel was third in 1:05.21.

Only Holmwood Technical showed up for the 4x400m and the quartet of Torriann Noad, Daniella Deer, Brianna Duhaney and Tracey Riley ran a time of 3:53.32.

The Holmwood pair of Dayjahne Hibbert, with a best of 1.60m and Calleisha Chance, with a best of 1.55m, finished first and second in the Class One girls’ high jump, while Danielle Anglin of Herbert Morrison, who passed at all the previous heights, failed to register a clearance at 1.70m.

Malaika Cunningham of Wolmer’s Girls’ continued to show consistency in the Class Two high jump, winning with a best of 1.70m, while Shackala Henry of Holmwood was second with 1.60m. Brishawn Grant, who also represent Holmwood, was third on countback with 1.55m, just getting the better of Alliah Baker of Hydel who cleared same height.

— Dwayne Richards